Tuesday, 16 September 2008

This napping canine is a regular feature of the High Street, along with his owner. They (well, the human) sell The Big Issue outside Marks & Spencers.

For those that don't know, The Big issue is an entertainment and culture magazine produced by professional journalists and sold by homeless people. They buy the magazine from The Big Issue Foundation for 70 pence, sell it for £1.50 and keep the 80 pence profit. The idea is to encourage homeless people to become vendors and earn a small wage, instead of begging for money. The publication was started in 1991 as a response to the many homeless people in London. It was initially published monthly, but by 1993 the magazine was produced weekly. The Big Issue is well known for the famous faces that appear on the front cover, and the up-to-the-minute interviews and articles. Find more about The Big Issue here.

16 comments:

I am a big fan of Big Issue. I didn't know about it when I arrived in the UK but now I know the philosophy behind it and have read it, I encourage everyone, visitors and locals to buy it. Thanks Marley for introducing it to everyone. Anything and everything that helps one's self esteem is a plus in my view.

If he were white, he could've been our dog — hairy and sleeping for more than half the day. ;)

I like the idea behind the magazine. I should keep my eyes open for a copy here. Metro Manila has a lot of 'informal' street vendors, most of whom live in squatters' areas. They sell everything from candies and snacks to cigarettes and newspapers.

Great dog. Love the photo. The dogs who walk the streets with guys and girls who sell The Big Issue - we have the same thing in France with a different name. I love these dogs. They put up with so much. Here the vets don't charge the 'street people' who have dogs. I love that too.

We have something similar here in NYC. I forgot the title of it. In Belgium we have something like this too. We would always buy one when shopping at Delhaize. And then one day, the smilling Chinese guy who used to greet everybody with a smile while selling his newspaper disappeared. He found a job. :)